Chanel: Illusion d'Ombre (in Abstraction and Fantasme)

These are my first gel/cream eyeshadows which also doubles as an eyeliner.  And I'm very happy with it.  It is very pigmented and glittery.  Does not crease on the eyelids and is long-wearing.

Abstraction is a sparkly apricot pink.  It applies opaque when using the brush that comes with the shadows.  Color can apply sheer but build up is easy when fingers are used.

Fantasme looks white in the pot but it applies transparent and glittery.  I fell in love with this while watching Lisa Eldridge use it as highlighter for the eyes, checkbones, and the clavicle.  Very versatile.

Product name: Chanel Illusion d'Ombre
Shades: It is available in 8 other shades plus 1 shade "Riviere" which is a limited edition Asia exclusive shade.
Available at: Chanel counters at Rustan's Shangri-la and Rustan's Makati
Price: PHP 1,950

♥

VMV Hypoallergenics Glitter Gloss in Princess

Vivid burgundy!  The color of red wine.  And raspberries.  And this glitter gloss called Princess.

I'm not much of a fan of glitters on the lips because it can be overwhelming and one may end up looking like a victim of arts and crafts debauchery.  But the glitter in this gloss ain't anything like that.

This it goes on smoothly.  The glitter does not sink in the lines of the lips.  It is non-drying and does not leave lips feeling sticky.

Do you fancy glitter in your gloss?

♥

Guerlain KissKiss!

Hello there!  A short period of self-discipline has come to an end.  Self-discipline involves not lusting after makeup and thus not shopping for it for a while :)  Another reason I've been absent on this blog is because I have been busy creating posts for another blog which is about books and literature.

I have very much missed blogging about makeup and drooling over other makeup blogs :)

My "hello again I'm back" post will be on Guerlain's KissKiss Gloss in 869 Rose in Bloom and 871 Frosted Rose.

I've been using Frosted Rose almost everyday.  The texture is so smooth it glides like silk on the lips.  I did not experience any painful tingling or stinging (unlike with some I've tried).  It wasn't sucking moisture out of my lips.  It's so light and comfortable to wear it has become my favorite lipgloss.

In the tube Frosted Rose looks lilac-y pink but it is sheer when applied.  It looks great on top of any shade of lipstick.  Another good thing about this is that it doesn't have sparkles.

Then we have Rose in Bloom.  It is peach in color and has loads of shimmer.  The texture is thicker than Frosted Rose and it doesn't apply as smooth as the other.

Something similar about the two glosses is their yummy candy like smell which I love.

Have you tried any of Guerlain's KissKiss Gloss?

Have a blessed weekend!

♥

Amuse Eyeshadow... the pretty that carries something ugly

Look at those colors!  Bright and playful.  Just how I like it.  This shadow has fun written all over it.  And not to mention the price was dirt cheap.  Who doesn't love a bargain?

The colors are very pigmented.  What you see in the palatte is what you will get when you apply it.

But I don't know what's up with this.  I get a bump on my eyelid when I use this.  The bump will disappear the following morning.  I first did not associate the bump with this product but after using it for three times I can unhappily conclude, sine dubito, this is the guilty party.

Gorgeous as it looks I don't think I will be using this again.  Sometimes a bargain is just not a good deal.



Do you have any bargain makeup purchases that turned out to be a bad buy?

Have a blessed weekend!

♥

Guerlain Rouge Automatique

I had my first taste of Guerlain's Rouge Automatique lipstick in February.  The shade I've chosen was Rose in Bloom (162).  I loved how pretty this shade of pink is.  I loved the creamy yet hydrating formula.  I thought it was cleverly packaged though it makes applying not so easy.  Willing to be uncomfortable when applying this shows how much I loved this lippie.

Around mid-May was Guerlain's last day of its long on going sale here in the Philippines.  According to the Sales Assistants they had a change of management.  New set of bosses, new set of rules.  In a panic attack I decided to indulge on a few Rouge Automatiques and KissKiss glosses.

I got three shades of Rouge Automatique: Nahema (143), Champs-Elysees (165), and Nuit d'Amour (170).

I was expecting Nahema to be more orange on the lips but it turned out to be an orange pink.

Champ-Elysees is magenta pink.

Nuit d'Amour is plum.

Have a blessed day!

♥

Products I Want to Finish and One I Never Want to Hit Pan

1. VMV So Clear Oil-Absorbing, Clarifying Pressed Powder

I've been using this for middle of the day touch ups or when I feel too lazy to wear foundation.

2. Clinique Clarifying Moisture Lotion

These two 15ml samples are GWPs.  I don't use them often as I have read a number of bad reviews about their 3 step system.  I'm half done with one.

3. Lancome Blanc Expert Nuit Firmness Restoring Whitening Night Cream

Another 15ml GWP.  I love this cream.  My skin does look "bright" when I wake up.  But I don't know if I would purchase because there's a rumor going that Lancome products are the same as Loreal.  Price is their one of their differences and another is Lancome has that "French flair".  Maybe I should check out Loreal.

And the product I never want to hit pan:

Chanel Rouge Coco Baume

This baume is so hydrading.  It conditions the lips gloriously.  I wish a tube of this can go on forever.

Are there products you want to finish or to never hit pan?

Have a blessed day!

♥

VMV Hypoallergenics Skin Bloom Blush

on 30% off 

I experimented with make-up in my early twenties.  I tried various drug store brands but most of them broke my skin out which made me shy away from cosmetics.  Then I saw a TV show that featured VMV.  Decided to try it out.  And the rest was history.

VMV Hypoallergenics is a make-up brand that specializes in allergen-free cosmetics and skin care.  Their products are fragrance-free, paraben and preservative-free.  And since glue can be an allergen some of their boxes are glue free.  The manufacturing and best used by dates are stamped on their boxes and at the back of compacts.

origami like box

I bought these last December.  They are the first blushes that did not irritate my skin.  Another good thing... these were on 30% off sale.

The compact and its brush are housed in a faux suede (not sure of the material) box.  It's very chic and simple it adds extra excitement when doing touch ups.

I got Georgia and Bellini.  They have been my go-to blush.  They go smooth when applied and can last up to four hours without touch ups.

Georgia (left)
Bellini (right)

best used by and manufacturing dates

My love for make-up and skin care started with this brand.  

This will be a long lasting love affair.

Have a great day!

In Transition

It is currently 33 degrees here.  The skin weeps with sweat as the atmosphere kisses it with its humid lips.  This weather's mood is a sign that summer is about to end and rainy days are about to be ushered in soon.

The last thing any one wants to wear in this heat are thick and heavy fabrics such as leather.  But shades inspired by it make a great transition in between these two tropical seasons.

I am coping in this climate with some help from eyeshadow Les Cuirs and lipstick Leather.

How do you cope with transitioning weather?

Have a happy weekend!

Cruel Gardenia, Spring 2012

I've read a lot of blog posts about Guerlain's Cruel Gardenia last January but it wasn't available here until two months later.  And because there are already so many blog posts about how amazing this powder/highlighter is I will just post a picture.  As the saying goes a picture can paint a thousand words.

Have a happy day!

So Long Paul and Joe

Paul and Joe Beaute counter
Rustan's Makati

I haven't finished saying hello, I have to say goodbye.  April 15, 2012 is Paul and Joe Beaute's last day here in Makati, Philippines.  Sad.  According to the SA the whole of Paul and Joe Beaute will be pulled out from South East Asia.  It is a decision made by the distributor.  Sad.  Their last collection available here was their Manhattan collection which was released for fall 2011.  I was waiting for their spring 2012 which I find really cute, but, I will never have a chance to hold those in my hands.  Sad.

I've never tired any of their products but I will miss seeing their charming counter which adds an extra something special to a department store's beauty section.  I do hope that someday Paul and Joe will come back to South East Asia.  You will certainly be missed.

Love and Sensibility

In everything in life there should be balance.  Having just recently discovered love for make up and excessively, even obsessively, reading a ton of blogs about every old, new, soon-to-be-released, extra gorgeous (I'm talking about you lovely Guerlain) products and how to use them, it gets so easy to give in to temptation and shop until you can literally drill holes in your wallet/bank account.

I was tempted.

I shopped and shopped some more.

I was conquered by consumerism.

Sad to say, I have lost footing for a couple of months, five to be exact, regarding spending.  Currently, I am re-learning how to gain back self-control before I get to the point of losing financial freedom.  With this I have to start being responsible and sensible about what I take in.  One cannot just keep on breathing in temptation without being tempted.  It is true what is said in Galatians 6:7 that a man reaps what he sows.

  

Don't get me wrong.  Blogging is good and so is make up.  But as a consumer I have to find a healthy balance.  I have made it a resolution to lay down boundaries as to how much information I can take, and how much virtually persuasive photographs I can look at so that I will not set myself up for spending like an insane woman.  I have to take responsibility now.  Because if I don't, in the end too much of these pretty things will cause me to regret it.  Plus, being sensible will give long term satisfaction in life's big picture.